Biogen Idec/Elan's multiple sclerosis therapy Tysabri is available in the U.S. through a single distributor: AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group division ICS.

The firms announced July 24 that natalizumab has returned to commercial availability almost a year and a half after being pulled from the market due to reported cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Tysabri was re-approved by FDA in June (¹ Also see "FDA Re-Approves Tysabri, Recommends Second-Line Use" - Pink Sheet, 5 June, 2006.).

As a condition of approval, Biogen Idec/Elan established a risk management plan called the Tysabri Outreach: Unified Commitment to Health (TOUCH) Prescribing Program, which requires enrollment of all patients, prescribers, pharmacies and infusion centers to receive, prescribe or dispense Tysabri.

Biogen Idec/Elan said they have contracted with 12 specialty pharmacies to be trained in the TOUCH program. Selected pharmacies include Caremark, McKesson Specialty, Cigna Tel-Drug Specialty Pharmacy, Aetna Specialty Pharmacy and Accredo NovaFactor.

Since approval of Tysabri in the European Union, the product has been launched in "several countries in Europe." The product was approved in the EU in June (² Also see "Tysabri Approved In EU; Biogen Will Initiate A Staggered Launch" - Pink Sheet, 29 June, 2006.).

Tysabri Re-Launches In U.S. Through Single Distributor

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